Heart Attack or Acute Myocardial Infarction Signs and Symptoms

A heart attack occurs when a blood clot obstructs a coronary artery, which is a blood vessel that feeds blood to the heart.  Instantly that part of the heart that is served from that artery is without blood supply.  Interrupted blood flow to the heart results in damage to the heart muscle and even death.  We have put together a list of common signs and symptoms of a heart attack, and signs and symptoms preceding a heart attack below.

Also, we have information on diagnosis, helpful books and valuable resources for patients.

The Most Common Signs and Symptoms of A Heart Attack:

• Excruciating pain, starting in the lower chest and spreading throughout the upper half of the body
• Weak, rapid pulse
• A fall in blood pressure
• Dizziness
• Unconsciousness
• Pressure or a feeling of fullness in the center of your chest
• Pale, clammy skin
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Impending sense of doom
• Shoulder pain, arm pain, back pain, jaw pain and tooth pain

The Most Common Signs and Symptoms Preceding a Heart Attack

Heart attack symptoms don’t always occur out of the blue.  There can be several signs and symptoms in the days and weeks preceding a heart attack that often lead up to a heart attack.  The following signs and symptoms often occur prior to a heart attack:

• Abdominal aches and pains
• Pain that comes and goes in the shoulder area, back area, jaw area and neck area
• Sexual dysfunction – trouble having or keeping erections
• Extreme fatigue in the days or weeks prior to a heart attack
• Difficulty catching a breath
• Leg pain or swelling
• Acute insomnia
• Anxiety and a feeling of doom
• Flu-like symptoms without a high temperature
• Irregular pulse and heart rate
• Weakness and malaise

Diagnosis of a Heart Attack

If you are indeed having a heart attack, a diagnosis of a heart attack will likely be made in the emergency department.  Tests to confirm the diagnosis of a heart attack include

• An ECG (electrocardiogram)
• Blood tests to test for certain enzymes in the blood
• An echocardiogram
• A chest x-ray
• An angiogram

Books For People Who Have Survived a Heart Attack

Heart Attack or Acute Myocardial Infarction Resources

General Patient Resources

• American Heart Association

The American Heart Association explains heart attacks. Symptoms, diagnosis, warning signs, tolls and resources and much more.

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/Heart-Attack_UCM_001092_SubHomePage.jsp

• Heart Attack Professor

Who else wants to know the resources I used and the people I went to so I could recover a full and meaningful life after a heart attack?

http://heartattackprofessor.com/

• Med Help

MedHelp’s Heart Attack Center for information, symptoms, resources, treatments and tools for heart attack. Find heart attack information, treatments and more.

http://www.medhelp.org/tags/show/299/Heart-Attack

• Daily Strength Forum

Discuss heart attack with others who understand what you’re going through.

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Heart-Attack/forum

Medical Resources

• Web MD

Learn more about heart attack causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart_disease_heart_attacks

• Medicine Net . com

Overview on heart attack (myocardial infarction) and heart attack symptoms including jaw pain, headache, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, sweating, and more.

http://www.medicinenet.com/heart_attack/article.htm

• Medline Plus

A service of the US National Library of Medicine.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/heartattack.html

• Heart Attack or Cardiac Arrest?

Learn the difference between signs and symptoms of a heart attack or cardiac arrest.

https://www.aclsmedicaltraining.com/is-it-a-heart-attack-or-cardiac-arrest/